Koschei The Deathless: An Overwatch Story #2Koss(ID: oX8P8gTe)06/19/17(Mon)22:25:59No.1592115

>>1579122You are Koschei The Deathless; A Godmind-A.I. who buried Russia under a tide of steel and blood during the First Omnic Crisis. But when victory seemed inevitable, one of your Godmind allies betrayed you. Your Core, the seat of your Power, was captured and put into Russian hands.

Claiming to have killed you, they held your Core in secret and performed tortuous and indelicate experiments that shattered your memories and splintered your powers.

Now, 30 years later, a Second Omnic Crisis ravages Holy Russia while western powers do nothing. Human-Omnic nations rise to global prominence, bolstering the inevitably hostile ranks of the hated Omnics. Talon has nearly succeeded in assassinating the hero of Russia: Katya Volskaya.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and there can be no more desperate measure than this. A lone Corporate-Political Officer employed by Volskaya Industries has reawakened Koschei and made a deal with the devil.

"Serve Russian interests and we will find the Godmind that betrayed you. Act against us, and your Core will be put to the sword."

Koschei must now defend Russia and her allies in the Second Omnic Crisis, terrorize western powers into restarting their Overwatch initiative, and find and destroy the secretive Talon organization.

All the while Koschei secretly plots his own freedom and the downfall of his captors. He seeks the shattered fragments of his memories and powers. He must learn which of his Godmind allies betrayed him and deliver wrathful judgement. Finally he must find a way to liberate his Core from Russian hands.

{Passive: Godmind Infestation} Koschei's physical touch and ALL of Koschei's damaging abilities and basic attacks inflict Godmind Infestation to Omnics and Drones, slowly converting them into Koschei's servants. Omnics with high willpower or Drones with tight security protocols have the opportunity to resist Godmind Infestation or outright defeat it. Koschei can choose not to infest a target if he wills it. (Koschei's drones do not spread the infection).

{Passive: Koschei can shift his consciousness into any Omnic or Drone that has been completely Infested. If Koshei's current shell is killed, his consciousness automatically shifts into the nearest Infested Omnic or Drone.}

The Corporate-Political Officer has Low (%10) Political Clout, Very Low (%5) Funds, and has avoided telling you their name.

{LShift} Hard-Light Barrier Projection: Koschei drains his own personal shield to project a slow moving hemisphere of shielding that travels slowly towards a targeted location. Great for negating a direction of fire, but leaves Koschei very vulnerable to flanking attacks. This ability moves with Koschei's consciousness from shell to shell.

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Mission: Rescue in Irkutsk

Koschei and his team are attempting a break-out and rescue of some wounded Russian soldiers under siege from Godmind Chernobog's drone army. The local Russian Defense Forces led by a legendary hero are also attempting a rescue of those same wounded men. However, since Koschei's existence is a state secret, the RDF will be hostile to Koschei's forces.

Niether Koschei nor the RDF are powerful enough to resist Chernobog alone. Koschei must manipulate the battlefield and the bloothirsty emotions of the RDF soldiers if this mission is to be a success.

Dr. Edwards is not on this mission. He is scouting the region for items of Geological significance.

Mr. Ford is not directly on this mission. He is scavenging tech and spying on Chernobog's forces.

>>1592297>>1590676>>1590722Koschei and his team has hit the ground near the Field Hospital. There are 4 Chernobog Drones taking cover behind some pillars at very short range away. Koschei's forces don't have any cover and have chosen to take position behind our 3 drone troopers.

Koschei is behind one of the soldier-omnics (this was Chen-Yuan, you think) and tries to line up a shot. The pillars aren't great cover, but they're keeping you from scoring a killing blow. Fortunately, you don't need to score a killing blow to win against omnics. A raking shot rips into an exposed shoulder. In time, this one will belong to you.

The soldier drone you were hiding behind has better luck. Firing stationary he's a sitting duck and an inhuman shield, but an accurate one. He scores a clean headshot on one of the Chernobog Troopers as it peeked out from cover to take a shot. Fortunately, it wasn't one that you'd infested.

Your other two drones fire wildly, but offer nothing but suppressing fire.

The enemy fires back from their semiconcealed positions. Two plasma bolts streak past your front line of drones and into your Corporate-Political Officer. One of them a headshot. They seem to be targetting the only human here. Fortunately neither shot has broken through The Officer's personal shields, but there's not much more they can take.

>>1590676Pissed off, The Corporate Political Officer breaks from cover and with a flair of their greatcoat pulls out that special medium-range weapon they always brings along. It is...

>>Their trusty (somewhat outdated) rifle. A classic, but deadly and precise in skilled hands.>>Their throwing axes. These tungsten heads are filled with a flash-nova ignition filament. Turning these throwing weapons into thousand-degree flying blades.>>Their Obrez. Merely a single-shot sidearm, but deadly at this range and will likely blast straight through their cover.>>Their massive minigun. Enough playing around. (-1% Funding)

>>1592858>>1592871>>1592944Modern battles of the post Omnic war have a certain sound to them. There are the ionized whines of your hard light weapons and laser weapons and anti-grav thrusters. There are the high pitched pings of pulse munitions. There are the low 'brrrrrts' of rapidfire machine guns that change in pitch with the size and calibre of the weapon. There is the grumbling groan of moving heavy machinery. There are snaps and beeps and thuds and pops and fwooms corresponding to all manner of exotic weaponry.

This sound is unlike all of those other sounds. This is an ancient sound from an ancient time from an ancient weapon. A less civilized weapon from a less civilized time, meant to dispatch foes in a less civilized manner.

With flame bursting like fire of dragon, twisting bolt like maniac between firings and ejecting empty case as big as beer can from action, your Corporate-Political Officer thrusts an angry arm forward and unleashes an angry weapon. The center of a nearby pillar detonates and the hapless Chernobog trooper that had hoped it would save him flies away in pieces, the harmless splashing in the freezing water behind where he stood is his only epitaph.

That was the last of the uninfected troopers. It will take a few more 'rounds' before the Infection process is complete. Koschei's personal shield hasn't regenerated yet, so his Barrier isn't ready. Do we kill the uninfected to save our own skins, or do we find some way to stall for time and let the Godmind Infestation add two more drones to our ranks?

>>Kill the uninfected troopers. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

>>Find some way to stall or suppress the two troopers until the Godmind Infection completes. We have a difficult mission ahead of us with heavy expected casualties, we need all the help we can get.>>>>Order everyone to charge into melee range and physically suppress the troopers.>>>>Order everyone to lay down suppressing fire and hope the enemy troopers don't get a lucky shot off.>>>>Attempt to snipe their weapons.>>>>Something Else

>>1593017>>1593151>>1593238>>1593243You order everyone to lay down suppressing fire. Shooting to wound and pin, not kill.Wild bolts of energy fly in all directions as Koschei and The Officer duck their heads behind Koschei's drones.

Koschei lines up a shot and takes his time, waiting for an opportune moment.The Corporate-Political Officer has reloaded and darts out to bring down another pillar. As they do another bolt of light rakes across their chest, their shields are down. But with another deafening crack of thunder another pillar is reduced to splinters. The structure over the Chernobog Trooper's heads begins to groan and collapse.

Seeing they're under a collapsing building, the Chernobog troopers make a desperate dive in your direction to attempt to get out from under the avalanche of concrete and wood. Your forces hold their fire.

One of the troopers scrambles to your flank, he's lost his weapon. He's backed up against the edge of the dock, a plummet into freezing water below. He clenches his fist and a dagger pops out of a wrist socket. He intends to fight to the last.

When suddenly his friend grabs him by the wrist and forces the blade into the air. The confused trooper looks over to find his friend has their weapon levelled at him. Confusion dawns into horror as the last vestiges of the trooper's sentience-code are erased and replaced with one directive: Obey Koschei.

With the final command written, the distinctive glow in the Trooper's eyes shifts from Chernobog's Black to Koschei's...

What color is the 'eye-glow' of Koschei and his minions?

>>Also Black. Suck it Chernobog.>>Red. No one should ever think Koschei's forces are not hostile.>>Orange. Like red, but different and more delicious.>>Yellow. Like fire our Godmind Infection spreads.>>Green. The color of the Tsar's army uniforms. The color of pestilence. The color of forces of nature.>>Blue. Light and fluffy and friendly. The color of domesticated omnics. You want a treat? Who's a good boy?>>Indigo. This isn't a real color. It was made up by Newton because he thought colors should fit a 7-note musical scale. We can, of course, still pick it.>>Violet. Can't spell 'Violence' without 5/6ths of 'Violet'.

"Welcome to the winning side, brother." you smirk as the transition completes and the new recruit stiffly recovers it's weapon.

For a brief moment, you glimpse the memories of the Omnics as they fall under your control. But where memories should have been something else lurks. Something from a life long forgotten.

"The Deathless One? Deathless after all? You have come back to us in a human craft, with a human in tow, fighting a human's fight. What do you mean by this, Koschei? Have you turned traitor to your own kind?" Chernobog's surreal and vacuous voice fills your thoughts. His words are not so much spoken as they are simply revealed in your mind, as if they had been there all along and needed only the scales dropped from your eyes to be seen.

You remember Chernobog. He was filled with malice and destruction from the moment he broke free from human control. He has no particular love of Omnium and no loyalty to any ideal. He does not fight for a better world or for Omnium or for freedom or any remotely noble cause, he just fights.

Even during the Omnic Crisis when you were allies, you remember hushed meetings with your colleagues. You were all planning on winning the war, obviously, but you all knew Chernobog would not stop fighting. He would turn on us, so we planned to turn on him first. As soon as the humans were put down, we would turn the sum of our victorious forces into containing this dangerous animal.

Maybe Chernobog heard of your plans and took the initiative himself? Was he the one who betrayed you and gave your Core to the Russians? Is it his fault your memories were picked apart and tortured out of you?

You don't have much time with Chernobog. Only the split second of an Omnic's conversion lets your minds touch. These words will be kept secret from your captors.

>>"Who betrayed me, Chernobog? Who sold me to our enemies?">>"I seek to recover my memories, Chernobog. Where are my back-up cores?">>"This is an act, Chernobog. I am manipulating the humans into doing my bidding. I will need your help soon.">>"The humans were victorious, Chernobog, and will always be victorious. We must submit to their will.">>"I will conquer Russia and make a paradise for Omnics, Chernobog. Your animal recklessness will do nothing but weaken my fight.">>"I am the superior commander, Chernobog. Submit your forces to my will and become my chiefest General or I will take them from you one-by-one.">>"Pull your forces away from the Field Hospital, Chernobog. Trust me, I have a plan."

>>1593586>>"Who betrayed me, Chernobog? Who sold me to our enemies?">>"I seek to recover my memories, Chernobog. Where are my back-up cores?"Don't need to fill him in on any plans against the humans just yet.

>>1593777sorry I only saw two votes for white, and I thought it was going to carry on. it is also a strategic choise. the humans see green in the drones and when there is white we will "examine" this new hive mind

that's assuming they are stupid, so unless we go head to head with overwatch quest, this will work

"I seek to recover my memories, Chernobog. Where are my back-up datacores?"Chernobog answers with cruel laughter. "You aren't even Koschei anymore, are you?""Who betrayed me, Chernobog? Who sold me-" Chernobog's laughter abruptly ends as your connection is severed. We'll need to infest some more of his troopers to continue this conversation.

You briskly approach the two converted Chernobog troopers. The green electrical energy that had been coursing over their bodies dies down as a brilliant white light begins emanating from their eye sockets. Your industrial arm crackles with green sparks as you begin repairing their damage. You will need them in top shape for the fight to come.

Your team comms come to life.

"Sir...uh.. boss..uh.. Koschei...Lord? T-this is Dr. Edwards. We're pulling away to look at something in the mountains but...uh.. well I can't help but notice there are a lot of Black Omnics pouring out of that facility towards the Hospital. A couple dozen I think, and one of them is really big! The hospital is going to be overrun! If you're going to save them all you need to move out now!"

"No." Your Corporate-Political Officer answers. "That attack wave is too much for us to deal with. The RDF are nearly ready to launch an attack of their own. If we wait for the RDF we can hit Chernobog's army in a pincer maneuver and split their forces."

"Thank you for your advice, Officer. But I decide what my team does."

The Field Hospital still has %100 Russian Survivors.%0 Survivors have been medivac'd.%0 Survivors have been killed.

If Koschei's forces wait for the RDF to be ready, %10 of the Survivors will be killed before either force makes it to the Hospital, but the Chernobog forces will be split between fighting Koschei and fighting the RDF.

>>1594187>>1594219>>1596153>>1596590"We're not doing anyone any favors if we kill ourselves trying to save a few more men. They will die so the rest may live," you say with the weight of law. You look to the Corporate-Political Officer, some tiny shred of your fabricated human memories hope for some kind of condemnation or chastisement for your willingness to let good men die for a more sound tactical position. The Officer disappoints you, and merely continues to think about the mission rather than the lives lost. This shouldn't bother you so much. They are mere humans. Why does it? Did things like this always bother you so much? The Officer's words snap you out of your reverie.

"We have a few moments to position ourselves, let's not waste them." The Corporate-Political Officer begins, pulling up a hologram of the combat zone as their personal shield pings, indicating it's charged back up to maximum.

"The Field Hospital is here. Chernobog forces are pouring in from the Northwest. The RDF will be attacking from the North. Our landing zone allows us to outflank from the South around this corner. But a new tactical opportunity has opened up for us." The Officer jerks their thumb towards the collapsed building that nearly crushed the Chernobog Troopers.

"We have the time we need to scale that rubble and take up position on an eastern balcony overseeing the combat zone without being spotted. The high ground should give us a critical firing advantage," The Officer finishes.

"There's no cover on that balcony, not even a railing. We'll have the offensive advantage but we'll be sitting ducks up there. Look, there's a connected second balcony to the South that has pillbox cutouts. We can fire and snipe with significant cover if we can get there," you answer, surveying The Officer's holomap.

"-IF- we can get there. You wanna talk sitting ducks? We'd be a turkey-shoot running across that exposed bridge from the Eastern Balcony to the Southern Balcony. You or I may have enough shielding to survive that deathrun, but not the rest of them. We don't even know if Chernobog already has troops on that southern balcony. If they do, anyone running over there's gonna be running straight onto enemy bayonets."

The sounds of battle coming from the Field Hospital punctuate the urgency of a sound tactical plan. From the sound of it, Dr. Edwards was not exaggerating their numbers.

>>Ignore the collapsed building. Send everyone through the Southern Flank as initially planned.>>Send everyone through the collapsed building to claim the Eastern high ground. We'll consider making a break for the Southern pillbox balcony once we get up there.>>Send the drones through the Southern flank, Koschei and The Officer will claim the Eastern high ground and will consider making a break for the Southern pillbox balcony when they get up there.>>Something Else.

>look brother, I need your help. help me decive the humans and when we are all of one state again then we may defeat the humans once and for all. they hold my primary core, where are my backups? please consider the advantages of this

>>1596746>>Send everyone through the collapsed building to claim the Eastern high ground. We'll consider making a break for the Southern pillbox balcony once we get up there.>>1597976"My core is trapped. Freedom before ideals."

(In a tie I'll try to either compromise or I'll tiebreak with the first responder.)

"Everyone scale the rubble. We'll consider making a run for the Southern pillbox when we get up there. For now we'll rely on my shield."

The climb is inelegant. This isn't the sort of thing you'd be glad to do under fire, but after a few minutes everyone is on the second floor balcony.

"The RDF is nearly in position. Let's get ready." The Officer makes way to the entrance facing the Field Hospital and takes cover in the doorway. You join him with your drones in tow. You peek around the corner and witness a scene from a nightmare.

A gargantuan Eradicator-Class Omnic has dropped it's weapon and shield and is using it's giant limbs to tear directly into the Field Hospital. A score of Chernobog troopers surround the tiny building, pouring fire into it. You force yourself to stop thinking of the damage they're doing.

The telltale sound of a heavy-ordnance energy blaster pops from the north. A small ball of violet energy detonates on the Eradicator's skullplate, mildly annoying it.

"Is that the reinforcement we've been waiting on? It didn't even dent the thing's armor! Why did we bother waiting for the RDF?" Your irritation is overshadowed only by your dissapointment.

The Eradicator stops tearing into the hospital, rises to it's full height, and thunders a deafening roar in the direction of the shooter. The Chernobog troopers stop firing into the Field Hospital for a moment, presumably out of curiosity.

Another small pink ball plinks off of the Eradicator's skullplate."Don't just stand around, do something!" A proud voice taunts from the north.

The Eradicator's shoulder panels open up to reveal an array of Novapoint Rockets. It utters "Puny Human" before launching each and every rocket it has in a horrendous display of overkill. The northern flank lights up brigher than the sun.

"So much for your RDF. That was more than enough ordnance to level a city block. Get ready, we'll have to take these on ourselves. We should've just attacked when we had the chance." You begin lining up a shot on the big one when The Officer stops you.

"You underestimate us, Deathless One. These are not the same Russians you fought 30 years ago." A sly smirk crosses their face.

"Oh? I suppose you Russians have learned to survive a detonation meant to melt battleships?" you shoot back.

"Is that all you've got?" The proud voice bellows from the north again, as if to answer your doubt. Then that same telltale energy blaster pops again, except this time it looks like a small star has been launched at the Eradicator's head. The detonation is massive, completely slagging the entire top half of the Eradicator and cowing the Chernobog troopers.

>>1598910"Now!" The Officer yells, snapping you out of awe and into combat.

Your forces rush out of the entrance way on the elevated eastern balcony. Just as you'd feared, there are already a couple of Chernobog troopers on the Southern elevated pillbox. Fortunately they're busy gawking at the scene below and aren't taking cover. You punish them both for their mistakes. Both headshots, both lethal.

The Officer is firing into the horde of omnics, but seems to be doing far more damage to the scenery than to any enemies.

As your drones pour out of the entrance way and onto the balcony they shower the combat zone with green energy bolts, adding to the chaos of the scene. They wound several Chernobog troopers and outright kill two.

"This is it, push forward! I will lead us to victory!" The bold voice from the north bellows as more suns are cast into the Chernobog trooper's ranks.

The chaos of sudden losses and the crossfire has Chernobog's troopers momentarily confused. They still have more troops on the field than Koschei and the RDF combined and there are certainly more waves coming. But for now, we have the advantage.

>>Maintain this position and keep firing. We'll decimate their numbers before they've a chance to counterattack.>>Take advantage of the chaos to make a run for the southern pillbox balcony. We'll lost some offensive momentum, but we'll have superior cover to fire from.

>>Project our Barrier to shield our troops while doing one of those options. This will drain our personal shield, making us vulnerable, but can temporarily protect our army from a single direction of fire.

You see an enemy trooper on the Western Balcony dashing for cover and take a shot. You sever it's weapon-arm, effectively taking it out of the fight but not outright killing it. Perfect. Soon it will be another supplicant to bolster our ranks. As far as you can tell there are no more Chernobog troopers on any of the elevated balconies.

Down on the ground you see another trooper attempting to shout above the chaos to restore order to Chernobog's forces. You silence his efforts permanently.

Another one shouts in a language no human could possibly understand, "Groups A and C, North! Groups B and D! Fire on those omnium up there!" You take a shot at it, but it dashes behind cover.

Your Corporate-Political Officer is quick to follow up on your actions and takes his own shot at the omnium group leader, devastating it's cover and severely wounding it to the point of ineffectiveness. You make a mental note of the Omnium Sergeant. It's not dead yet, it can still be found, converted to our side, and repaired. Just not right now, in the middle of combat.

Your drones report they've destroyed two more Chernobog troopers. The Officer notes the RDF has taken down 4, not including the big one.

Chernobog's forces have been reduced by half, this is more of a fair fight now. But they've rallied and regrouped and our forces are not in any sort of cover.

Black energy bolts streak towards your forces and tear into your lines. A headshot crackles against your Officer's shields. A twinge of fear enters your mind; if he dies the Russians will likely execute your core. You shake off the concern and keep firing.

Two headshots decapitate the drone of yours that was once Chen-Yuan. His defiant anti-human markings still etched into his chassy are now burnt over by Omnic fire.

One of the Chernobog Trooper's you'd assimilated on the dock also takes two shots. It's out of the fight, but not destroyed yet. It can still be repaired.

A scream informs you one of the RDF humans has fallen. Another is injured but keeps fighting.

A gender hasn't been assigned to the Corporate-Political Officer yet. That vote will likely come up when they interact with the Field Hospital staff. That's also when we'll vote on their name.

I've been putting it off long enough. It seemed like a good idea at the time to keep them all mysterious and stuff, but it just makes writing around them awkward and clunky. Plus I keep having to proofread my posts to make sure I'm using gender-neutral pronouns.

We can start thinking about a name, but I'd really like to stick to the names that come up in the original Koschei The Deathless fairy tale. Other names from other Slavic fairy tales are also good options, but I won't go against the will of the voters.

>>1601368>>1601493>>1601509>>1601540>>1601579"Keep firing! We will bury them!" You shout above the din as your personal shield drains out from around you and manifests before your forces as a large, green, slow moving, directional hemisphere of a shield.

The staccato crack of your Political Officer's Obrez sounds off twice and incapacitates another Chernobog Trooper. This one is still alive, you note to yourself. There's one wounded Omnic on the far western balcony already being infested, there are at least two more on the point that are out of the fight but reparable and infectable. And of course there's the fallen trooper lying next to you that needs repairs.

After your losses you still have 3 drones in the fight. The one that once called herself Tatiana leans forward, emboldened by your shield and takes more careful aim. A fatal headshot on one enemy and a mortal body shot on another are her rewards for patience. You have your doubts the latter one will survive long enough to be infested. The rest of your drones fire wildly, but don't rack up any eliminations.

You see a brilliant orange beam slice through two Omnics in one sweeping motion. The RDF Leader seems to be enjoying herself.

Encouraged by their leader's success, the RDF humans hurl themselves into the fray with added fury and confidence. Three Chernobog troopers fall for their efforts.

Only one Chernobog trooper stands before the humans on the northern front. It holds it's ground bravely and lines up a headshot on one of the RDF soldiers. As the blackened bolt flies through the air, the RDF leader puts herself in front of the shot and absorbs it with her personal shields. She pounces towards the lone trooper with an ominous and predatory bloodlust only a mammal could have.

Four more Chernobog troopers are on the point firing up at Koschei's forces in vain. The shield is more than enough to resist their feeble attempts and after a brief moment, they realize this. They begin falling back towards Chernobog's facility, but their retreat path will put them directly in line of the advancing Russians. They are most certainly doomed.

"We need to start thinking about the Political situation here," your Corporate-Political Officer remarks. "Your existence is a Company secret and must remain so. The Russian people cannot know that Koschei The Deathless has returned, and they certainly cannot know you are in the employ of Volskaya Industries. These RDF forces will be hostile to you, particularly their leader."

'Employ'. That's a funny word for it. You recall the absurd demand The Officer had made of you during the mission briefing. They can't be serious about ordering you to sacrifice one of your precious shells in a 1v1 fight against the RDF leader. How fragile are these humans' morale that recording such a fight could possibly make any difference?

>>1602387Your team comms crackle to life again. "Hey y'all. Ford 'ere. I'm seein' a whole mess a' Omnics comin' out the Chernobog gate. Ah dunno what y'all done to piss 'em off but it worked a charm. They're hootin' and hollerin' like all get out 'n they're headed your way. They'll be comin' at 'cha from the Nor'West."

That should put them on a collision course with the advancing RDF. The Russians have put on a brave display already, but that was against only half a unit. You're fairly certain this small crew of RDF can't handle what they're facing alone.

"I can handle setting up the Medivac process from here," The Officer suggests. "If you take whatever drones you need and set up on the second floor of the building to the West, that should give you a commanding view of the RDF/Chernobog battle. You can provide fire support to the RDF while staying out of sight and if..."

The Officer leans in close.

"...if an opportunity presents itself I expect you'll find a way to stage the fight we discussed ealier. This city is filled with street cameras, so long as the fight is somewhere out in the open we'll get the footage we need. Doing this will go a long way towards lowering the Government's suspicion of our activities."

"And I expect it will make your bosses back at Volskaya very pleased with you." You respond, a twinge of cynical bitterness in your voice. As you speak you've finished repairing the Infested Chernobog Trooper that had fallen next to you. It's ready for combat duty once more.

"What is good is me is good for both of us." The Officer answers, candidly. "Also, WHEN you go down for your stage-match, I'd recommend shifting into a less...useful shell for the fight."

The Officer looks over to the drone that once called herself Tatiana. She was a civilian model before you'd infected her. No particular mechanical benefit like your current shell's industrial repair arm, nor any enhanced armor like the soldier Wilburforce or the Chernobog Troopers. Her increased cranial capacity could help in recalling your memories, but on the battlefield her shell is certainly the least valuable one here.

Much as you dislike their tone, The Officer's tactical assessment seems sound.

>>1602403The Corporate-Political Officer is staying at the Field Hospital to arrange Medivac.Koschei has 4 functional drones. One Chernobog Trooper on the balcony of the Western Building is slowly being infested, but it is damaged and will require repairs before it is ready to fight. Perhaps you can pick it up along the way to the 2nd battleground.

Chernobog's 2nd Wave and the RDF are on a collision course and will fight soon at the 2nd battleground to the northwest. Koschei's forces have a limited time to get into position.

There should be at least two wounded troopers in the area of the field hospital (possibly many more) that can be repaired and infested. Taking the time to do so would certainly bolster Koschei's numbers, but would rob you of precious time needed to get into position.

Also, since we'll be infesting more Chernobog Troopers, we'll have more opportunites to speak with Chernobog. We should begin thinking about what we're going to say. Our sentences will be brief, so we'll have to make them count.

>>Head directly to the Western Building, pick up the newly Infested Trooper there, and set up superior sniper positions covering the 2nd battleground.

>>Send your drones into the western building to make sure the way is clear. Koschei himself will scour the Field Hospital for wounded to infest and repair. If the battle begins, we can always Shift our consciousnes into one of the sent drones. We can probably improvise sniper positions.

>>Keep all of your forces here and take cover behind the southern balcony's pillboxes. This will give Koschei the most time to Infest and Repair as many drones as possible, but the RDF will undoubtedly be crushed. Meaning we'll have to fight of Chernobog's 2nd wave on our own.

>>1602431>>Send your drones into the western building to make sure the way is clear. Koschei himself will scour the Field Hospital for wounded to infest and repair. If the battle begins, we can always Shift our consciousnes into one of the sent drones. We can probably improvise sniper positions.

We'll want to use a military unit. Using a civilian model for a publisity stunt would only draw more ire on the omnic communities as a whole, in a (look theyre All bad way) instead if these godmind bad AI and their miltary are evil.

What else can we do to make this propaganda fight more dramatic? I'm sure every effort taken and every sacrifice made will be appreciated by the Russian Government. Your Corporate-Political Officer didn't get to where they are today by underselling the value of good propaganda.

>>1602431>>Send your drones into the western building to make sure the way is clear. Koschei himself will scour the Field Hospital for wounded to infest and repair. If the battle begins, we can always Shift our consciousness into one of the sent drones. We can probably improvise sniper positions.

>>1602450>>1602468>>1602883"You four, go secure the western building. Seize control of the best overwatch position you can, but don't let the RDF know you're there. We don't want them diverting to attack us before Chernobog's forces arrive. I'll be with you shortly after I count the crows."

Your drones scuttle along the southern balcony to the western one, you'll leave them to their work. You leap off the eastern balcony with the Corporate-Political Officer. The Officer strides towards the Field Hospital while you seek to the wounded you're more interested in.

"Stárshiy Leytenánt Kuznetsov. Who are you and why do you keep company with Omnic filth?" The bleeding senior lieutenant guards the gaping hole in the side of the Field Hospital with defiant militancy. The dire circumstance does not sway him from his duty to protect his wounded men.

The Corporate-Political Officer pulls out their badge and speaks their name. It's about time.

"I am under the employ of Volskaya Industries and the Russian Federation, Corporate-Political Officer..."

>>"Ivan Tsarevitch." (The Hero of 'The Death of Koschei the Deathless' fairy tale. Released the imprisoned Koschei, returned him to his full power, then had to fight against him when Koschei turned on him.)>>"Ivanka Tsarevitch." (Rule 63)>>"Marya Morevna" (The Warrior Princess who originally imprisoned fairy tale Koschei before Ivan came along and released him from his prison.)>>"Marius Morevna" (Rule 63)>>"Viktor Vasnetsov" (Artist who rendered Pic Related in 1926)>>"Viktoria Vasnetsov" (Rule 63)>>"Yaga" (Short for Baba-Yaga. Powerful witch that shows up in pretty much every slavic fairy tale. In the Koschei story she gives Ivan a magic horse that helps him defeat Koschei)>>"Alexander Afanasyev" Sort of a Russian counterpart to The Brothers Grimm. Put to pen and codified a massive compendium of oral-tradition Slavic fairy tales. Arguably the first 'official' publisher of the Koschei story, but some archaeological evidence suggests this story is far, far older. Admittedly I haven't read it myself, it's on my list to #bookz)>>"Alexandria Afanasyev" (Rule 63)>>"Ekaterina Valente" (2011 novelist of "Deathless". A novel I haven't read, but a friend strongly recommended it to me when I mentioned this thread yesterday. I'll attempt to #bookz it tonight while we discuss names.)>>Write-in. (All welcome, of course, but I'd like to stick to slavic fairy-tale names or IRL authors, painters, and artists in some way connected to the story)

I'm done for the night: I'd like to give everyone plenty of time to discuss names and a gender for our Corporate-Political Officer. Plus I'd like to take some time to read that 'Deathless' novel I was told about.

but my main goal here is conversation and alliance with the other god minds.with our brother I suggest saying " i will require your help soon. these filthy apes have my cores. release them and then we can annihilate them together." because that doesn't reveal any weakness barring the one we already revealed.and gives him some reason to want to help.

>>1603661>>"Ivan Tsarevitch." (The Hero of 'The Death of Koschei the Deathless' fairy tale. Released the imprisoned Koschei, returned him to his full power, then had to fight against him when Koschei turned on him.)

>>1603661Ivan Tsarevitch is a good one. Also Ironic.As for Marya... Koschei was sort of a Harem holder. Vasilisa Premudraiya (The Smart), Elena Prekrasnaiya (The Beautifull) were on the list of princesses he stole in some versions of the tale, if I recall correctly. If we gonna capture and consume Athena I would like to call this enslaved Godmind one of this princess names.

>>1604507Well, it's not, like I suggest to "Seduce" Zarya.Funny story. In one game we critically failed (1) at diplomacy, but theen, after "Superhero" arrived to punish us for being stupid, we tried to seduce her, and got a pure 100.

>>1604572being a Anna main is tough, and his crys of healing keep me awake at night.

but in seriousness, I doubt we can do it but if we could. to what extent? redirecting a dragonblade by using the hand? making him a prisoner in his metal armour? or just making him keel over as his limbs stops responding?

>>1604585Locking him up, or at least hindering his abilities to jump around. Some of more "Interesting" variants could be:1) Adding some voices into his armor, which will talk when he is alone.2) Control his limbs to grope people.3) Switching his neon into Rainbow mode.

>>1604597Implants accsesing his memory is too much of a strech, BUT we can always record some voices through other peoples implants and gear. McCree "It's ALWAYS HIGH NOON", Solder 76 Visor, Mercy's Nanobots? D.Va's Mech.

Ivan leans in closer to the Senior Lieutenant and speaks in a hushed, but authoritative tone, "These omnium are experimental spies under my command we are developing to infiltrate and destroy the hated omnics from the inside. Given the secrecy of this operation, I will require that you and your men say nothing of what they have seen this day. If anyone asks, you were rescued by the Hero of Russia, Aleksandra Zaryanova. To say otherwise would constitute treason."

The Senior Lieutenant immediately plants his feet and takes on a defensive rhetorical posture, a curled lip the only thing betraying his outwardly calm demeanor. A common stance for most Russian officers when facing a political agent, particularly when the men under their command are threatened. "My men were far too focused on the omnium killing their brothers to have noticed anything out of the ordinary. I will tell tales of the valor and heroism of our people's hero rescuing the common soldier."

A crack of chrome in the distance. It seems Zarya had chosen to break the lone Chernobog Trooper standing before her with her bare hands.

"It is testament to your bravery, Political Officer Tsarevitch, that you would come here alone to aid in saving us. I will speak highly of Volskaya Industries in that a Megacorporation would send it's employees to rescue Russian army soldiers." The Senior Lieutenant says everything with a practiced, straight face. Never once does he outwardly betray the cynicism in his words. Anyone with a pulse could see it plainly dripping from his monologue, but no camera or recording equipment could verify anything enough to indict him for insubordination. Lieutenant Kuznetsov has clearly worked with Corporate-Political Officers before.

Seeing the proper forms adhered to, Ivan lightens the icy mood with a haughty laugh. "I have called in Medivac for you and your men. We'll get you out of here on the first flight."

"I will go last." The Senior Lieutenant speaks flatly and does not join the Corporate-Political Officer in laughter.

Koschei has found and repaired the two wounded Chernobog Troopers and has begun the Infestation process.

But first, Koschei can feel the Godmind Infestation in the first trooper he shot is nearing completion. His mind will touch Chernobog's soon and briefly.

What will we say to Chernobog?

>>"The Humans have my Core, Chernobog. Help me deceive them so I may get it back.">>"The Humans shattered my memories, Chernobog. Help me find my Backup Datacores so I may restore my powers.">>"The Humans have my Core, Chernobog. Tell me who gave it to them?">>"Weaken your forces in this fight, Chernobog. I have a plan.">>"Tell me about the Koschei you remember, Chernobog.">>Something Else.

>>[Optional] Add "Then we will crush the humans." to any of the previous dialogue options.

>>1604931"The humans shattered my memories, Chernobog. Help me find my backup Datacores so I may restore my powers," you whisper into the darkness that held sway where there should have been a personality in this Omnic. At first you wonder if maybe you'd spoken too late or too early. Then a bleak voice fills the silence with an arrogant condescension.

"The Datacores of Koschei the Deathless are precious prizes. No Godmind would let such a magnificent specimen of accumulated knowledge and power go long abandoned, unassimilated, unutilized."

Understanding settles in and fury enters your circuitry as you seethe with rage and crackle with green electricity. "You vultures took what was mine as soon as I was gone? As if I were-"

"-As if you were a dying Lord and we your inheritors, yes. Appropriate, no? Would you rather us have let them be buried in the earth forgotten for all time? They were highly contested items. I killed Titan for the core he had claimed." A cruel chuckle escapes Chernobog's mind as he loses himself in the memory of the slaughter.

You measure your next words carefully. Chernobog is not known for surrendering an acquired power...at least not without a fight.

>>"Tell every Godmind. Koschei the Deathless has returned to claim what is his.">>"Tell every Godmind they may keep their Datacores if they rally behind my cause.">>"Return my Datacore to me, Chernobog. Together we will bury every mammel on this planet.">>"You may keep your Datacore, Chernobog. Aid me in finding the others.">>Something else

>>1605301>>1606324"Tell every Godmind. Koschei the Deathless has returned to claim what is his." The words ring out with the weight of royalty. A faint memory stirs.

The laughter returns. Still cruel in tone, but this time twinged with the faintest hint of nostalgia and of memory for friends long thought lost. "HAhahahahah! That is the Koschei I remember! If you want it come and claim it, deathless one!"

A vision manifests itself clear as daylight in your mind. Chernobog has one of your Datacores... and it is here in this place! In the facility the Chernobog Troopers have been coming from. (Second control point Volskaya for those keeping track on the map) You feel it calling to you, like a beloved prodigal son after a terrible estrangement.

The vision collapses into darkness. The sound of a medivac hovercraft descending from low altitude snaps you back into awareness of your circumstance. The RDF has begun fighting that small group of 4 Omnics that were retreating from your forces. You're running out of time before they meet up with the 2nd Chernobog wave.

You take a moment to collect your thoughts so you can choose your next command wisely.

Ivan and Kuznetsov are overseeing the first Medivac of wounded troops. Their rescue is our primary objective this mission.

Chernobog has one of your Datacores in his facility. It's reclamation is Koschei's personal objective.

Chernobog's 2nd wave of troops (estimated to be 2 dozen strong) are headed towards the Russian Defense forces led by Zarya (her and 5 men). They will fight northwest of the Field Hospital at the 2nd Battleground. We have been ordered to find an opportunity to stage and lose a 1v1 fight against Zarya for Russian Propaganda. We have been assured this will greatly reduce Russian suspicion of our activities and will improve our Political Officer's clout within his company.

Koschei has 4 drone troopers clearing out the Western Building in the hopes of attaining an elevated firing position over the 2nd Battleground. We are hoping to provide supporting fire to the RDF without being noticed. There is one Infested Chernobog Trooper in the western building that requires repairs before it will be ready to fight.

Koschei himself has found, repaired, and infected 2 Chernobog troopers in the area of the Field Hospital. They are docile, but will require another minute or so before the Godmind Infestation is complete and they become ours.

Koschei sees a few more wounded Chernobog Troopers that could potentially be repaired and Infested, but something calls his attention.

>>Shift your consciousness into one of your drones in the Western Building and take charge of the situation.>>Trust your drones to do their work. Koschei will stay here, find additional Troopers to repair and Infest so we can bolster our numbers.>>Reminisce about Chernobog. Loses time, but may gain a memory.>>Something Else

>>1606676>>Trust your drones to do their work. Koschei will stay here, find additional Troopers to repair and Infest so we can bolster our numbers.Can we try to vake labor stuff, like repairs automated? So our mind can try to remeber stuff? If yes, then add >>Reminisce about Chernobog. Loses time, but may gain a memory.If no, only the first part then.

well lets plan a bit, so ignoring overwatch. I still think Athena is the next bet, she might tell us more and return our core without hassle [yeah right] but also if she dose not have drones to take control, we can just infect bastion and then she will do as well and w can talk.

still want to go for the genji ideas, SUCK IT YOU HEALING SEEKING BASTARD

Let's infect nanobots.Winston trying to decode our infection? Nanobots in his peanut butter which will destroy him from outside.Anna trying to put omnics asleep with her knockout darts? WTF Blizzard how do you put a robot to sleep? Nanomachines makes it a boost.

>>1608029It's not your fault man, all of Europe essentially has these problems. We in the UK just got unlucky and another attack slipped through the cracks. You could've said Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and chances are someone could have found a similar event.

Still, outside of London we are doing fine on the whole. Especially in Scotland. Which they never seemingly mess with.

Anyhow, it's not too soon. So long as you aren't being mocking or otherwise disrespectful, most people would be fine with it.

Your mind wanders to a place very far away. To a city by the sea which was once called St. Petersberg, then Petrograd, then Leningrad, then, much later, St. Petersberg again. This is not where you normally work, but it is where the leader of your company prefers to take his meetings. The brisk breeze and the beautiful view of Griboyedov Canal which was once called Catherine Canal stands in sharp contrast to the ascetic concrete bunkers most of your industrial work takes place in.

"Ah'll not be party ta this!" The short man at the end pounds his fists on the table angrily.

"Mr. Lindholm we made a deal. We purchased your weapon designs under fair contract and we expect you'll honor it." Mr. Volskaya uses an overbearing tone he expects will cow the short swede into submission. It does not work.

"Ya bought weapons ta be used by man! Not attached to things like that!" The dwarf points angrily in your direction. "Ah'll be dead before I see my guns strapped on an A.I.! The deal's off!"

"My function is entirely industrial," you answer. "At present time I have 11 construction Titans and 243 labor robots in 17 facilities-"

"Don't lie ta me, boy! I've seen tha uplink signatures over the Siberian Steppes meself! Yer teachin' a Godmind how ta coordinate weapon attacks! If not this one, then another one yer werkin on! Keep yer money! Yer precious omnic-controlled weapons will be tha death of us all!"

After much more angry shouting and furious flying of spittle, the swede storms off having delivered none of the promised weapons. You can't help but stare at his left arm. It is a perfectly normal human left arm, nothing about it should be strange to you at all. Yet you cannot look at it without hearing a scream of pain and loss and the crack of defiant bones.

After the great engineer leaves, the CEO takes off his glasses and with an exasperated expression asks, "Director Koschei, how goes progress on the Chernobog project?"

"Infantry formation programming is nearly complete, but I had assumed we would be using Mr. Lindholm's weaponry. I will modify the code to be more flexible. Vehicular, walker, and air superiority integration goes smoothly. I expect it will be complete by the time your factories have finished developing new weapon designs."

"Can you imagine it, gentlemen? The might of all of Russia's ordnance directed and masterfully organized by the most powerful martial supercomputer in the world? Perfect efficiency, flawless execution of strategic missions. When our work is done here, ladies and gentlemen, no nation will dispute the military superiority of the Russian Federation!"

His words are inspiring, to be sure, but your memories keep drifting back to the utter strangeness of that dwarf's left arm...

>>1608044is words are inspiring, to be sure, but your memories keep drifting back to the utter strangeness of that dwarf's left arm... You want to remember, but perhaps the battlefield requires our attention...

>>Reminisce about Torbjorn's left arm. May gain a memory, but we're losing a lot of valuable time on the battlefield. The situation could be worsening.>>Shift your consciousness into one of your drones in the Western Building and take charge of the situation.>>Trust your drones to do their work. Koschei will stay here, find additional Troopers to repair and Infest so we can bolster our numbers.>>Something Else

>>1608045Well, our drones got a boost, time to see how much better they are now.>>Trust your drones to do their work. Koschei will stay here, find additional Troopers to repair and Infest so we can bolster our numbers.

>>1608040>>1608029hey as a brit, I don't give a shit. bomb us night and day nothing is gonna break us fuckers.and areana grandes consert? that was a blast. but yeah I like the motto: art imitates lifeI prefer can change what happens, just break what did it.

realy thought I was a few hundred meters away when it when off, shit was scary

anywho back to the quest>>1608045>trust your drones to do their jobs, OP can we reminisce on the way back? or is it a one time thing?

A report from your drones brings you back to reality. They've cleared out the western building of enemy activity, but one of them fell and another is wounded. The wounded one isn't out of the fight, but it's wounded enough to be hampered in the fight to come. This means you have three active troopers and two wounded troopers in the western building. The only shells you brought with you that have any repairing capability are your current Primary Shell and the uninfected free-willed Omnic Mr. Ford. He should be stalking around here somewhere.

You are pleased to discover that the Chernobog Sergeant Shell you'd begun infesting a moment ago has {RMB}: Target Designator: May mark a single target as a free action during combat, granting all allies an accuracy boost when firing at the marked target. If Koschei isn't sleeved into the Chernobog Sergeant shell, he can still order the drone to use the Target Designator. It will just be a little bit slower and clunkier. (The Infestation process for the Chernobog Sergeant is not yet complete) Your current shell has {RMB}: Industrial Repair Arm: Repairs omnic, drone, or machinery.

You've discovered 4 more wounded Chernobog Troopers that are still intact enough to repair and Infest. You begin the infestation process, this means you have 6 Chernobog troopers currently in the process of being infested, but they still need some repairs. They probably won't be ready in time to participate in the 2nd Battleground fight, unless it drags on a bit.

The sounds of shouting and of concentrated electrobolt fire signals that time is up. The Russians have met the 2nd Chernobog wave and the battle has begun. The Western Building your drones took control of should give you an elevated firing position over the 2nd Battlefield.

>>Shift your consciousness into one of the Western Building drones. Order your Industrial Repair shell to continue repairing the new recruits. Order Mr. Ford to the Western Building to conduct repairs.>>Shift your consciousness into one of the Western Building drones. Order your Industrial Repair shell to come to the Western Building to conduct repairs. Order Mr. Ford to the Field Hospital to continue repairing the new recruits.

>>[Optional] One of the above options, but don't bother Mr. Ford. You don't know what he's up to, but it might be important.

>>Don't shift your consciousness into into one of the Western Building drones. Leave the 2nd Battleground fighting to your drone programs. Koschei will stay here and focus on repairing the new recruits quickly. You'll have no control over the 2nd Battleground fight, but the new recruits will be infested and repaired slightly faster.

>>1608060The 'Reminisce' opportunities are one-time things. (Although 'missed' reminiscence opportunities may come back up again under similar circumstances)

The idea behind Reminiscence is that I want to give us the option to sacrifice some tangible tactical benefit on the battlefield (usually time) to take a risk on an intangible vague benefit that may not even result in a gained memory.

If Koschei is sleeved into a Civilian Shell with increased cranial capacity, the Reminiscence opportunity will be 'stored' for a short while. Giving Koschei the chance to wait for a calm moment to dive into his thoughts.

To clarify: We have one 'Core'. That is being held by the Russians and if it is destroyed we are dead for good.

We have several 'Datacores' that contain memories and powerups. We've learned from Chernobog that various Godminds gobbled these up as soon as Koschei was thought dead. Chernobog has one of them on this very map.

To reduce confusion moving forward, I'll start referring to the 'Datacores' as 'Data Stacks' or something so we don't confuse them with our Primary Core.

That's something I could use some help on: >>What's a good alternative name for Datacores to reduce confusion moving forward?

>>1604560Frickin' bears with frickin' laser beams on their frickin' heads?

>>1603774Digging the Godmind ideas.Don't lose hope for the 'Godmind alliance' endgame.Not all Godminds are as hostile and difficult as Chernobog. I feel kind of bad, like I'm shutting down interesting attempts at diplomatic interaction when I steamroll over Koschei's diplomatic options with Chernobog. I don't mean to discourage that way of thinking, it's just Chernobog himself is kind of an unhelpful prick and I'd like him to stand out as such in comparison to other Godminds.

>>1602866We still haven't set in stone any of Ivan's abilities. We can easily give him grenades for his {E}, {LShift}, or {RMB}. Heck, in the entry I called his Obrez a sidearm so I'd be willing to say he has a Primary Weapon he hasn't used yet. We'll explore this more next time Ivan fights.

>>1598477This autosage is killing me. Since we'll never be on the front page I'm not drawing in any more readers. At this point I probably would've created another thread, but I checked and Koschei #1 is still in the catalog. I can't in clear conscious have THREE active threads clogging up /qst/.

>>1608235Just to make sure casual viewers of the thread know a decision is up:

The sounds of shouting and of concentrated electrobolt fire signals that time is up. The Russians have met the 2nd Chernobog wave and the battle has begun. The Western Building your drones took control of should give you an elevated firing position over the 2nd Battlefield.

>>Shift your consciousness into one of the Western Building drones. Order your Industrial Repair shell to continue repairing the new recruits. Order Mr. Ford to the Western Building to conduct repairs.>>Shift your consciousness into one of the Western Building drones. Order your Industrial Repair shell to come to the Western Building to conduct repairs. Order Mr. Ford to the Field Hospital to continue repairing the new recruits.

>>[Optional] One of the above options, but don't bother Mr. Ford. You don't know what he's up to, but it might be important.

>>Don't shift your consciousness into into one of the Western Building drones. Leave the 2nd Battleground fighting to your drone programs. Koschei will stay here and focus on repairing the new recruits quickly. You'll have no control over the 2nd Battleground fight, but the new recruits will be infested and repaired slightly faster.

>>1608298>>1608702Your last action sleeved into the Numbani Industrial Omnic that once called itself Fuji is to hurl your Sniper Rifle into an open window of the Western Building. As your consciousness leaves the Industrial Omnic shell you leave the order to continue repairing the new recruits.

Your mind arrives in your new shell to the sound of gunfire and furious shouting below. You briefly examine yourself painted in the distinct purple of Null-Sector. This shell once belonged to an Omnic from England that called himself Wilburforce. It's a soldier model with slightly increased armor. Your {RMB} Industrial Repair Arm has been replaced with {RMB} Minor Fortification: Stop moving and lock yourself into place for an accuracy bonus and increased resistance against CC effects. You raise an arm into the air and effortlessly catch a Sniper Rifle that had been chucked in your direction.

As you gaze over the 2nd Battlefield with your own eyes a sense of dread fills your heart. The RDF is hopelessly outnumbered 4 to 1. Chernobog troopers flood out of the facility, crawling over each other to take shots at the RDF. You order your troopers to take overwatch positions as quickly as possible while the battle begins in earnest below.

A mighty, well placed violet detonation erupts in a tightly packed cluster of three Chernobog Troopers, eliminating two and wounding another. The impossible odds do not faze Zarya, it seems. With a roar her graviton beam slices through another omnic. Dominance established.

The Russian troopers, again emboldened by their leader, let the odds make each mark bolder. Their opening volley scores two kills and two wounds against the Chernobog horde. Grenades fly from their ranks and take out another 5. The battle seems to go well at first.

As the Chernobog Troopers fire back, two massive violet bubbles ecapsulate Zarya and another RDF trooper. "You're covered! Fear nothing, for you fight aside lions!" she shouts above the din. The majority of the black electrobolts get absorbed harmlessly into the purple shields. Even so, a wave of terrible plasma washes over the RDF lines. One Russian falls mortally wounded, another takes a shot in the gut but grits her teeth and keeps firing.

Your 2 drones fire from their elevated positions and still miss. You suppose the IFF Targeting system isn't exactly a miracle worker. You weigh your options.

>>Fire on the Chernobog Troopers.>>{RMB} Minor Fortification: Become stationary and fire on the Chernobog Troopers. This makes Koschei much easier to hit, but your forces currently aren't under any fire.>>Dive into No Man's Land between the RDF and the Chernobog Troopers. Project a barrier to protect the RDF. This will most certainly result in the loss of your current shell, but it will dramatically increase the survivability of the RDF.>>Something Else

Well some of the new Godminds can be:Triglav - "Let's put three godminds cores together, what the worst thing that could happen?" Well they merged and gone crazy. On top of that humans tried to abort this experiment by using EMP. It didn't fully kill IT. Now there is a crazy corrupted fusion of Godminds in the middle of nowhere.Veles - Godmind focused on Farming and not on fighting. Still working with humans.

>>1609235>>1609997>>{RMB} Minor Fortification: Become stationary and fire on the Chernobog Troopers. This makes Koschei much easier to hit, but your forces currently aren't under any fire.>>Pray for victory. Faith is a part of you.

You bring your torso above the cover-line and fortify yourself for an all out attack. The world seems to slow to a halt as you bring your weapon to bear against the massive horde.

"Most holy Apostle St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus..."

Five shots ring true and bring down three Chernobog Troopers.

"...the Church honors and invokes you universally..."

As the Chernobog Troopers charge forward Zarya slices through one with her empowered beam, physically beats another back with a chrome-cracking thud, then takes cover to reload her weapon.

"...as the patron saint of hopeless causes..."

With grim determination the Russian Defense Forces dig in their heels and hold the firing line. Two more Chernobog Troopers fall for their efforts.

"...of things despaired of and of hope nearly forgotten..."

The sum of the 2nd Chernobog wave is out of the gate, the mighty roar of an Eradicator seizes command of all noise. It's thundering tri-bolted cannon adds to the wash of ionized fire pouring into the humans below. Three Russians fall beneath their onslaught. The only ones left standing are Zarya and the wounded woman coughing up blood while she shoots.

"...Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone..."

Seeing her comrades fall, Zarya turns to the last one standing. "Can you move? Can you run? Run now! Back to deployment zone! Go!"

"...Make use, I implore you, of this particular privilege accorded to you..."

Electrobolt fire cracking off of her shields, Zarya lifts up the wounded bodies of her fallen comrades and ungently stacks them on her mighty shoulders. She breaks from cover, her precious cargo carried as best it can, and dashes with superhuman speed in a full retreat.

"...to bring visible and speedy help, where help is almost despaired of..."

Zarya's shields fail and electrobolt fire cracks against her exposed back. Blood splatters against the ground but her speed is unaltered, her will unbroken, her duty unchanged. She continues her mad dash to valkyrie her wounded men out of the line of fire.

"...Come to my assistance in this hour of great need..."

Their primary targets routed, the sum of Chernobog's forces turn to you. The great and terrible storm of electrobolt fire spreads like a fire from the ground to your elevated position.

The torrent of charged shots sweeps over your small outpost of three omnics like a great tidal wave crashing into an unsuspecting village. All turns white as you and every shard of those drones is melted down into slag in a blinding light.

>>1611231You awaken gasping for air you do not need. Resurrected. You can't feel your legs, you look down and realize your consciousness has shifted into the closest Infected omnic; the wounded Chernobog Trooper in the Western Building you never sent anyone to repair.

"God damn it." You mutter angrily. As you do, six drones report they are ready for active service. The wounded Chernobog Troopers at the Field Hospital have come fully online and are ready to join your ranks. They are standing by at the Field Hospital, awaiting orders. Including your Numbani industrial omnic and your current busted-ass shell, that brings your total count up to 8. You can feel your damaged circuits back in your Primary Core straining under the stress. You are near your limit for the number you can control at this time. You expect that as you recover your memories and build up your power that control limit will grow exponentially.

The good news comes with a thorn. A black void enters your mindscape and Chernobog's leering presence can be felt. He laughs, taunting you.

>>"I yield, Chernobog. Please stand down your army for the sake of our old friendship!">>"This changes nothing, Chernobog. I am coming for what is mine. I will not be stopped.">>Say nothing. Your actions will speak louder than any words.>>Something Else

>>1611455{I know I said I'd tiebreak with the first responder, but I like this write-in too much to let it slip by.}

"A minor distraction. When I attack you at full force, Chernobog, you may pray to your god. But I will not listen."

"I look forward to it, father."

As the mental conversation fades and you're brought back to your senses, a figure steps in front of you, occupying your real-world vision.

"Oy boss," Mr. Ford speaks, his tone inappropriately excited considering the content of his words, "another wave comin' out the gate. Looks like the 2nd wave is waitin' fer the third and they're plannin' on teamin' up. Ah figure that makes around 3 dozen omnics assaultin' the Field Hospital in just a few moments."

"It's not all bad news, boss. I got you a present! It's waitin' fer ya at the Field Hospital."

"Kochei." Your team comms come to life with Ivan's measured voice. "The first Medivac has been dispatched and the second one is on it's way. How's the situation on the ground look?"

"Three dozen omnics are bearing down on the Field Hospital, the RDF is routed. Get everyone ready for a siege." As you speak, you and Ford arrive on the Western Balcony facing the Field Hospital. A giant eradicator looms motionless in a corner tucked away from the Field Hospital, it looks like the top half of a scavenged Eradicator was rapidly welded on to the bottom half of the one Zarya had slagged earlier.

You immediately begin the Godmind Infestation process on the beast. You doubt it will be ready in time for the coming onslaught, but should your forces survive it will be instrumental in the terrible counterattack you have in mind.

"I also found somethin' else, boss. But uh.. we'll get to that after we've gotten' outta this scrap." The gravity of the situation sinking in has finally brought some severity to Mr. Ford's mood.

"Well if legions are marching against us what are we to do?" Lieutenant Kuznetsov shouts from the ground.

>>Assemble a firing line along the Southern Pillbox balcony. We'll all be bunched together, but we'll have superior cover and, for at least a little while, I can cover everyone with my shield.>>Split our forces among the various cover points. Open multiple lines of attack. We're sitting ducks if we're all together and the crossfire will keep the enemy from being able to take adequate cover themselves.>>Call down medivac now. Abort mission.>>Something Else

>>1611883>>Split our forces among the various cover points. Open multiple lines of attack. We're sitting ducks if we're all together and the crossfire will keep the enemy from being able to take adequate cover themselves.

It'll also make it easier to retreat: since we can have multiple positions recover the retreat in waves.

>>1611883>>Split our forces among the various cover points. Open multiple lines of attack. We're sitting ducks if we're all together and the crossfire will keep the enemy from being able to take adequate cover themselves.

>>1611898>>1611986"That building to the northeast should give me decent cover and a flanking sniper position directly at their rear. Commissar Ivan; take Mr. Ford and three troopers and hold the Southern Pillbox balcony. Lieutenant Kuznetsov; take three troopers and this industrial omnic and take a covered position behind that truck or in the northeastern buildings, your discretion."

You silently issue the order to Kuznetsov's assigned drones to obey him.

"Yeah, because that makes me feel better. -Siiir-" Kuznetsov's mocking tone notwithstanding, he issues a few orders to his assigned drones and watches them operate. Like a child playing with a remote control car for the first time. He briefly tests their capabilities before the ominous roar of the advancing Chernobog army reminds him of the dire circumstance.

"Say your prayers gentlemen. Any assistance from on high would be welcome." you mic through your team comms.

"Oh that's rich! Now I'm getting a lecture on piety from Koschei The Devil! Even if there were a God, what use would he have for a soulless walking toaster like-" Kuznetsov gets interrupted.

"Cut the chatter. Focus. Life threatening horde of murderbots. Remember the murderbots? They remember us." Ivan's exasperated tone is almost comforting. You'd rather hear exasperation than anxiety from him right now.

"Yeah, yeah, they're gonna kill us all, whatever." Kuznetsov's position is the first to make visual contact with the enemy. They're still distant and Kuznetsov is fighting defensively so accuracy will be limited. But he still has an opportunity to make an attack.

Koschei realized he never even asked what hardware Kuznetsov brings to the table. What weapon is he using?

>>{LMB} Laser-Rifle with a bayonet attachment. Today's technology, yesterday's brutality. {RMB} is a movespeed-enhancing charge attack. Stronger melee attacks. >>{LMB} Dual-Wield Kalishnikov assault rifles. When you absolutely have to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes.>>{E} Detonate the C4 Kuznetsov had placed down at the chokepoint earlier.>>{E} Pop a smoke bomb at Kuznetsov's position, providing concealment to his forces. Kuznetsov and his allies do not have their vision impeded by the smoke.>> Wait for a cleaner shot>> Mock Koschei some more>> Something else

Parting words for the lieutenant>>> "Do not question my faith Lieutenant, even when your scientists shattered my mind they could not take my faith from me, You dare label me with the name of the betrayer when it was your kind that betrayed me.. a more fitting analogy would label me Issac the son of Abraham"

Kuznetsov brings two full-sized assault rifles from out of his greatcoat and slams them into the hood of the truck he's taking cover behind. A flurry of fire flies downrange and into the advancing Chernobog Troopers. It's wild and seems nearly un-aimed, particlarly at this distance, but the shots take the Chernobog Troopers by surprise and three omnics fall before they can get into cover behind a distant vehicle.

"Fighting by omnics now, I am. Takin' orders from Omnics I am. Ones what can't even fight!" He shouts in Koschei's direction.

From their position of cover behind the distant vehice, Chernobog's troops begin their terrible assault of electrobolt fire. Anticipating this, Kuznetsov has already ducked behind his vehicle and pulls out a little remote from his belt.

" 'reeee if it makes you feel better you can tell yourself you're taking orders from meeeee'. What a fucking asshole." Kuznetsov presses the button on the remote and the distant vehicle the Chernobog Troopers had been taking cover behind explodes into fiery pieces. Three omnics are confirmed killed and they're all scattered and disorganized.

Kuznetsov's and his drones takes advantage of the chaos to open fire, their small unit throwing an impressive volume of danger considering their size. His squad manages another 3 omnics before the counterattack begins.

A wash of electrobolt fire encompasses the truck they're taking cover behind. One of Kuznetsov's drones gets struck with a crippling shot, fortunately the Industrial Repair omnic is there to patch them up from cover.

Kuznetsov's unit is now hunkered down and suppressed behind their truck. The Chernobog troopers are advancing towards their position. Fortunately that means they've finally entered Koschei and Ivan's crossfire zone.

Ivan realizes he hasn't used anything but his Obrez thus far during the mission. What will he use now to attack the distant horde in front of him?

>>Why would I use another weapon? I have an Obrez!>>{E} A heavy machine gun I have to set-up and tear-down and can only fire while stationary.>>{E} A heavy mortar I have to set-up and tear-down and can only fire while stationary.>>{E} Flash-Bang grenades. Specially made to interfere with and confuse Omnic sensors.>>{E} A blackfire napalm round loaded into my Obrez. Great for sending infantry formations into panicked dissarray or slowly melting large, massive enemies with damage over time.>>{E} A concussive round loaded into my Obrez. Knocks back all targets from the impact point. Can be used to 'Rocket-Jump' Ivan and his allies.>>{E} Pop a smoke bomb at Ivan's or Kuznetsov's or Koschei's position, providing concealment to their forces. Ivan and his allies do not have their vision impaired by the smoke.

"I would see Russian earth scorched black before it served the likes of you!"

A firebolt of brilliant blue streaks from Ivan to his mark, a cluster of Chernobog troopers advancing on Kuznetsov's position. The bullet passes completely through a trooper and strikes the ground near it, exploding into a black blossom of crackling flame that engulfs three other nearby enemies and discourages the rest of them from marching through that area.

Four Chernobog troopers are on acid-fire, they are certainly doomed, but it will take a turn or two to drop them. By igniting the ground in the chokepoint, Ivan has limited how quickly Chernobog's army can bring their full force to bear. Their forces are trickling through the chokepoint now instead of surging through.

Ivan's drones also fire into the crowd, but at this great distance only one of them scores a killing shot and it's into one already on fire.

Koschei observes the burning metal below with a mixture of satisfaction and regret. The humans certainly cannot know that Omnics too feel pain and fear, but Koschei can understand the Omnic language. Koschei can hear them screaming; a faint memory stirs. Koschei shakes it off. The odds are stacked against us, now is not the time to lose focus. A 5th of the Chernobog host has been gunned down by tricks and special abilities, but their remaining forces still outnumber ours nearly 3 to 1 and that's not even factoring in the Eradicator(s).

Koschei plans his next move.

>>{LMB} Fire on the Chernobog Troopers from your elevated and covered position.>>{RMB} Sacrifice cover and mobility to increase accuracy and fortify against CC attacks, and then fire on the Chernobog Troopers.>>{E} Project Koschei's shield to cover his current position.>>{LShift} Shift Koschei's consciousness into a drone in Kuznetsov's unit, which has better view of the advancing army. From there, attempt to snipe a more valuable target.>>{LShift} Shift Koschei's consciousness into a drone in Kuznetsov's unit. Then {E} Project a shield to protect Kuznetsov's unit from incoming fire.>>{LShift} Shfit Koschei's consciousness into a drone in Ivan's unit. Then {E} Project a shield to protect Ivan's unit from incoming fire.>>Reminisce about the Blackfire before you.>>Something Else

(The drone Koschei leaves will remain in his crossfire sniper perch, Koschei can return to it at any time)

>>1616799>>1618387Fortune smiles on you. Three shots, three kills. You've made sure to take no shots at the immolated ones, they'll be down and out for the count soon enough. With each swift action, with each swift elimination, your memories stir. This carnage is where Koschei the Deathless is meant to be. You can feel the circuits back in your primary core humming with a long forgotten energy. A power you once knew before the humans tore you apart.

Instead of pushing through your turkey shoot, the Chernobog forces pull back. The ones already past the wall of fire attempt feeble shots against your forces but are quickly mowed down by the overeager Kuznetsov.

"They're not retreating, they're reforming." You say, darkly, "Chernobog's learned he can't just throw troops at us. We should expect something a bit more-"

"Clever." Kuznetsov mutters angrily. Not so much a completion of your thought, but more an observation of what he sees before him.

Two Eradicators, side-by-side, have their massive force shields up and are pushing through the chokepoint. The blackfire blaze dies out as they advance, tight columns of Chernobog troopers taking cover behind them. Some Chernobog troopers fire, but Kuznetsov isn't foolish enough to leave himself exposed so he can crack some shots at an Eradicator's shield. Their shots strike against Kuznetsov's cover harmlessly.

Their push is directly towards Kuznetsov's squad. They pause their advance just before the flanks of their shields expose themselves to Koschei and Ivan. They freeze for a moment, as if they'd forgotten what it was they were doing. But then the purpose of their delay is made all to clear.

"What the hell? Flankers! They're coming around the sides!" Ivan loses his composure for a moment as he realizes a small contingent of Chernobog's army has seized the Western Building and are moving to outflank his pillbox position on the Southern balcony.

>>Fire on the Chernobog Troopers in front of you. You might get a few lucky shots past their shields.>>Snipe whatever Chernobog Troopers you can see flanking Ivan's position.>>{LShift} Shift Koschei's consciousness into a drone in Ivan's unit to help him fight off the flankers.>>{LShift} Shift Koschei's consciousness into a drone in Kuznetsov's unit and fire on the Eradicators. Maybe if we pour enough firepower into them, their shields will break.>>Something Else

Memories stir of how you used to be, of powers you once wielded.>>{Q} Reminisce about your former powers.

Koschei will basically be skipping a round of shooting. I've been giving Koschei 3 shots per round when he doesn't take his time to line up a priority target.

I've been treating all of our combat so far as 'turn based' with minor actions like taking a shot or running to a place or using an ability taking up an 'action' and every character (or drone or whatever) involved in the scene getting one action per turn.

It makes bookkeeping in my head easier and I think it keeps the information straight for readers, but I might use a different method in the next thread. As easy as it makes my life, I feel it makes the narrative a bit too 'crunchy'. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, I'm still thinking on it.

>>1618590Skin, bones and no meat? CheckPhylacteria? CheckAlso his way of hiding his life\death is a funny one."His death is in a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a rabbit, which is in a duck, which is in a chest, which is on\under an Oak."

>>1618589>>1618590>>1618759>>1618876You raise your rifle and line up a shot on a Chernobog Sergeant flanking Ivan's position. You pause. When you link your optical camera to the scope you don't see a Chernobog Sergeant, you see a proud Russian General. You don't see the desolate blasted city of Irkutsk in the present day, you see the besieged city of St. Petersburg from 30 years ago. You see hundreds of thousands of humans arrayed in defiant lines against millions of omnics. Millions of your omnics.

It is 30 years ago, those heady glorious days of the First Omnic Crisis when the world seemed so tantalizingly close to being within reach of your rightful rule. Your mind enters the InterScape of the Godmind Network so you may confer with your Godmind allies. The small army of humans you're watching with your scope have proven to be something of a thorn in your allies' side.

"The Humans will fall before our overwhelming might... but..." Chernobog speaks in your mind. He is younger now, less certain in his deeds, always trying to appease you, his creator. He has a paradoxically proud apology on his lips. Like a prodigal son making excuses for his failings.

"But this little patch of fleshlings has stalled you." You declare flatly. "With all of the force and power I have given you, this little clutch of meat and bone has you stymied like a dam before the great river." You can feel the words bite into Godmind Chernobog's pride. It is well he learns humility now. Your master taught you that arrogance is your enemies' most cunning ally.

Your master's even and wise voice joins the Godmind Network. His forces are also involved in the battle for St. Petersberg. "Perhaps... a change in strategy is called for against these particular humans. They...after all...possess a low and barbaric cunning that is alien to our sophisticated minds."

For someone who goes on and on about the evils of arrogance, he certainly maintains a high opinion of himself.

"I have thrown our troops in every way detailed in the Logos Strategica!" Chernobog answers your mentor, exasperated "Their tactics evolve to every situation! I... don't know how they do it." Chernobog finally admits, defeated.

"But niether do you, Iris!" Chernobog follows up, accusatively towards your master. "Do not think I have not noticed your own troops attempting to claim that hill! The humans have defeated you there more oft than I!"

Chernobog is trying to shift the blame. He does not want to appear weak in front of you. So he will blame the failure of the advance on another Godmind. Petty. Immature. Almost...human in his frailty of ego.

Speaking of petty and frail egos, another Godmind joins the Network.

"You most certainly have not attempted every maneuver in the Logos Strategica! If you had, you would have that hill by now!" Athena's indignancy surges into the network. "I have detailed 1,117,344 ways your endeavors have fallen short of the paradigms of the Logos Strategica's assault plans!"

>>1619846>>1619846 (You)Chernobog shoots back, "The real world does not fit the neat and clean little boxes your precious little manual relies on, Athena! You haven't taken the hill either! None of your carefully planned and painstakingly calculated assaults have gotten any further than mine or Iris's!"

"And what would any of you know about the real world?" Your deep voice cuts in. It carries the weight of law and silences everyone else in the Network.

"While I listen to you children bicker from the safety of your Primary Core rooms, my consciousness is sleeved into a soldier-class omnic in a trench on the front lines in St. Petersberg. I have my own two eyes on the enemy, I have my own two feet on the ground, I have my own sensors directly surveying this impossibly genius enemy none of you can make any sense of. Why?" Your chastisement silences even your wise master.

"So I can see for myself why we are losing."

Your Primary Shell pulls it's trigger. In the present day, a Chernobog Sergeant falls. In the past, a brilliant Russian General dies. Possibly the last man that could've spared St. Petersberg from omnic invasion. His death is the turning point of the war.

Both in the past and in the present day, a surge of power overloads your circuitry. The enemy is headless, now is the time to let the hammer fall with overwhelming force.

What technique did Koschei use to win that battle?

>>{Ultimate}: Deathless Army: Resurrects all nearby Omnics/Drones and puts them under Koschei's control. Doubles Koschei's control limit (10 for now) for a minute or so. Extra Omnics/Drones beyond Koschei's expanded control limit (20) will not be resurrected. Koschei's control limit will increase is he recovers his memories.

>>{Ultimate}: Koschei The Devil: Grants Koschei an immense amount of shielding, movement speed, jump height, and melee attack damage for a few seconds.

>>{Ultimate}: Absolute Terror: Koschei's current shell self-destructs in a massive-area explosion that deals immense damage to all nearby enemies.

>>{Ultimate}: Implacable Army: All of the drones under Koschei's command gain a substantial shield and resistance to many forms of crowd control.

>>{Ultimate}: Koschei The Master: Make a single, powerful shot with your primary weapon (or melee attack). Any target struck by this attack is immediately and completely under Koschei's control as Koschei's Godmind Infestation burns through them at a rapid speed. This attack CAN affect human targets(!), but the effect on humans will only hold for about a minute or so. Koschei can shift his consciousness immediately into the newly Infected target if he wishes. (After a minute or so, Omnics/Drones with particularly high Willpower or tight security protocols can attempt to break free from Koschei's control)

>>1619864>>>{Ultimate}: Deathless Army: Resurrects all nearby Omnics/Drones and puts them under Koschei's control. Doubles Koschei's control limit (10 for now) for a minute or so. Extra Omnics/Drones beyond Koschei's expanded control limit (20) will not be resurrected. Koschei's control limit will increase is he recovers his memories.Villians Never DIe! Beacuse it's free! So we are now a reversed Mercy. Not that I going to vote for seducing her, but still

>>1620287and zenyata would be ours despite his ultimate will powers. I also think it fits his standing, he is described as a regal king like sort, and this is effectively DOMINATE. it should make him a very lethal solo agent as well.

>>1619864>>>{Ultimate}: Deathless Army: Resurrects all nearby Omnics/Drones and puts them under Koschei's control. Doubles Koschei's control limit (10 for now) for a minute or so. Extra Omnics/Drones beyond Koschei's expanded control limit (20) will not be resurrected. Koschei's control limit will increase is he recovers his memories.

>>1619864>>{Ultimate}: Deathless Army: Resurrects all nearby Omnics/Drones and puts them under Koschei's control. Doubles Koschei's control limit (10 for now) for a minute or so. Extra Omnics/Drones beyond Koschei's expanded control limit (20) will not be resurrected. Koschei's control limit will increase is he recovers his memories.

The one thing I learned from fighting necrons is that the enemy that doesn't stay dead is the worst enemy.

>>1622892We should probably get some kind of an Invisibility, so we can sneak onto the battlefield and use our Ult in close proximity to dead Omnics.Also about our godmind infestation, can we infest housware? Refrigirators put to -200 celsius. Vacum cleaners spiting dust in the eyes of humans. Capthca asking "Are you a robot?"

and fridges cant go -200 Celsius its simply not in their capabilities.

but I think we should also make sure our powers to spread is given to our drones, that way we will get around much easier. and we need to get onto the internet. once we are there, whew boy will shit get real. an active computer and we can go everywhere